Citra woman dies in crash on East SR 40

Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 9:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 2:22 p.m.

ASTOR - A Citra woman died early Tuesday after the car she was driving flipped and burned on State Road 40, just west of State Road 19, FHP officials said.

Crystal Pettus, 23, was traveling west when her Mitsubishi Montero went off the road in a curve. She allegedly overcorrected and spun the vehicle off the north shoulder.

According to the FHP report, the Montero overturned and barrel-rolled back across the road, ejecting Pettus who was not wearing her seat belt. The Montero came to rest on the south shoulder, engulfed in flames.

Pettus was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:24 a.m. She becomes the 58th fatality in Marion County this year.

Joe VanHoose can be reached at joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com or at 352-867-4124.

<p>ASTOR - A Citra woman died early Tuesday after the car she was driving flipped and burned on State Road 40, just west of State Road 19, FHP officials said.</p><p>Crystal Pettus, 23, was traveling west when her Mitsubishi Montero went off the road in a curve. She allegedly overcorrected and spun the vehicle off the north shoulder.</p><p>According to the FHP report, the Montero overturned and barrel-rolled back across the road, ejecting Pettus who was not wearing her seat belt. The Montero came to rest on the south shoulder, engulfed in flames.</p><p>Pettus was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:24 a.m. She becomes the 58th fatality in Marion County this year. </p><p><i>Joe VanHoose can be reached at joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com or at 352-867-4124.</i></p>